Blanchard Man Survives Explosion After Igniting Fireplace For First Time

A Blanchard man survived an explosion in his living room.

It happened after he turned on his family's fireplace for the first time since buying the home.

News 9's Cameron Joiner spoke with the homeowner about those terrifying moments

Micheal Meade in Blanchard says he’s thankful to be alive after an explosion in his fireplace left him with a hole in his living room.

This is the damage left behind from the blast that sent him flying 11 feet across his living room in front of his son. Now, the family is searching for answers on how this happened in the first place."

“When I tried to light it blew up in my face and threw me across the room,” Meade said.

He and his family bought this home in 2022 but never used the fireplace until last week.

“We’re selling our house and our agent asked us if our fireplace works and we said we hadn’t turned it on,” Meade added.

“Unbeknownst to us there was a gas leak in the line and it filled the wall full of propane,” Meade said.

Meade, also a retired Marine, points to his faith as the reason he escaped without a scratch. “My son tells me when I flew back he saw the whole thing and a giant piece of sheetrock and tile kind of covered me as I flew back, which is probably why I can still see today,” Meade said. “That’s the one thing I have to attribute to god because it could’ve been a lot worse.”

Meade claims the builder who worked on the home hasn't provided answers, or proof the gas line was tested before the family moved in.

News 9 reached out to the builder and developer associated with the property, both declined to comment.

“I could hire an attorney but it’s cheaper for me to just get my insurance to pay for it than go after him to you know get repairs done,” Meade said.

Choosing to count his blessings as his family returns to their home state. “I definitely give all this to God,” Meade added.

Despite the explosion, Meade says his family will be moving to North Carolina while they work to clear this up and hopefully sell the house.